North Korea Conducts Nuclear Test

Where: Pyongyang, North Korea

May 26, 2009 : North Korea conducted a nuclear test on Monday, May 25, 2009, in the face of warnings and opposition from countries around the world. Geological sensors in South Korea detected tremors from an artificial earthquake caused by the explosion. This was followed by an official announcement by the North Korean government agencies of the successful conduct of the test. The Russian Defence Department said the bomb was probably as big as the bombs that caused such large scale destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the second World War.

The United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon urged the North Korean government to “refrain from taking any further measures which will deteriorate the situation.” The countries which condemned the test include South Korea, Japan, China, the United States, Russia, and the European Union. Russia, the US and the EU said the tests have violated the United Nations’ Security Council Resolutions. Iran however refused to condemn it, calling it an “internal affair”. North Korea’s response to the world’s disapproval was to test fire more missiles on Tuesday. The UN Security Council is now working to frame a new resolution against North Korea’s actions.

On April 5, 2009, the country had test-fired a rocket which was capable of launching nuclear warheads. This prompted alarm and disapproval from countries around the world. As a result, North Korea pulled out of the six-party nuclear disarmament talks involving the US, China, Japan, Russia and South Korea. The country is now seen to be in a confrontational mood, and not in a state of willingness to negotiate.

Meanwhile, South Korea is preparing to host a mega diplomatic event early next week. The 10-nation meeting of leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will take place here from June 1-2, 2009 in the face of the huge security threat from North Korea.

313 words | 3 minutes
Readability: Grade 9 (14-15 year old children)
Based on Flesch–Kincaid readability scores

Filed under: world news
Tags: #japan, #earthquake, #security, #nations, #korea, #north korea, #hiroshima, #korean, #russia

You may also be interested in these:
Joining Hands for peace, at Hiroshima
Super Moms
Square Watermelons
When two Voices become One Voice of Peace
Building a Giant Lie